City ball hockey team plans trip to Florida

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On Aug. 7 and 8 on the tarmac at Edmonton's municipal airport, 118 teams divided into four divisions competed in an in-line hockey tournament. An inner city hockey ball team, the Skid Row Dogz walked away with a win that will have them competing for the world championships in Orlando, Florida in January. The 2-1 win came in overtime against the Fox Creek Mungers.

The Dogz were one of the 17 teams that came out on top to advance to the world championships. The team now has the challenge of raising enough money to get them to the sunny south, $1,700 for each team member.

"All 17 teams can go to Florida to compete in the competition, as long as they raise the money for themselves," said Skid Row Dogz co-founder Raeo Dempsey.

Most of the Dogz never played organized hockey when they were kids, because their parents could not afford it, said Dempsey. What started as just a few of the guys playing hockey for fun in 1991 has become a lifestyle for the team. Now Dempsey and his inner city buddies spend their weekends at the McCauley rink in downtown Edmonton.

Dempsey is Cree is from Heward, Sask., a small farming community just south of Regina. He moved to Edmonton in 1991.

"All of the team members come from different backgrounds and geographical locations. We all get along great," said Dempsey.

"It is giving the children and adults a chance to live out their childhood dreams and I think that the team the Skid Row Dogz are a driven bunch of guys," said Warren Suitor, Edmonton organizer of the in-line hockey tourney. "It is great that they are representing Edmonton. I feel that they will do very well at the championships," he said.

Dempsey and his team members not only have to concentrate to raise money for their trip, but they may lose their practice rink as well. Some groups in the inner city felt that the McCauley rink was not really needed in the area and are threatening to close it down.

"Hopefully the situation will be resolved. I'm not going to worry about it. Somehow we will find some way to work around it," said Dempsey.

"So far the fun raising for our team has been going slow, because we've been preoccupied with this situation. However some organizations have come forward to help us fund our trip. The Ben Calf Robe Society is also accepting donations on our behalf," he said.

If anyone wants to help the team go to Florida they can call Audrey at Edmonton's Ben Calf Robe Society. The number is (780) 477-6648.